Registering apparatus for telephone-exchanges.



PATENTED APR.17, 190s.

O. E. WRIGHT.

REGISTERING APPARATUS FOR TELEPHONE EXCHANGES. APPLICATION FILED JAN.19,1905.

2 SHEETSSHEET lv 222755555,- [HZ/EH20; ,5??? 5252 5270557 iz/FzgZzzPATBNTED APR. 17, 190.6.

G. E. WRIGHT.

REGISTERING APPARATUS FOR TELEPHONE- EXCHANGES. APPLICATION FILEDJAN.19, 1905.

I [nuemazz- CZs'rEncsEZa/Fz' Z22. IIIIIII UNITED STAES PATENT OFFIOE.

CLARENCE E. WRIGHT, OF CLEVELAND; OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO DAVII) A. YODER, OFTOLEDO, OHIO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

?atented Apr l 17, 1 906.

Application filed January 19,1905- Serial No. 241,876-

1'0 ML whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CLARENCE E. WRIGHT, a citizen of the United Statesof America, and a resident of Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga andState of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements inRegistering Ap aratus for elephone-Exchanges, of which t e following isa specification.

My invention relates to improvements in registering apparatus fortelcphone-exchan es and the circuits therefor, and has for its objectthe provision of means whereby both the number of calls and the elapsedtime an operator requires for connecting or disconnecting may bepositively registered.

Such means are found in the prlor art involving the use of a clock,associated with a numerical indicator; but my invention resides in theprovision of certain apparatus herein described and claimed and itsassociation in the most advantageous manner, so that the desired resultis directly arrived at, and the invention is made ap licable totelephone-exchanges with but litt e or no alteration in the originalinstallation beyond the addition of the associated apparatus herein setforth.

I will explain my invention in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Figure I is a side elevation of a combined relay andcounting device. Fig. II is a similar view thereof indicating the samewhen the winding thereof is excited and the contactsprings are closedtogether. Fig. III is a front view of the counting train or mechanismactuated by said relay. Figs. IV, V, and VIare diagrammaticillustrations indicating the application of my improvement in differentways to telephone-exchanges. Fig. VII is a view of a pendulumcircuit-interrupter of my invention adapted for use in the systems shownbut not claimed herein. F' VIII is an enlarged view, in side elevation,ta en from the op osite side and illustrating further details of thedevice of Figs. I and II; and Fi IX is a diagram illustrating atelephone cordcircuit at an operators position with my in vention aplied thereto.

Throughout each of the several figures of the drawings the samecharacter of reference is employed to indicate similar parts.

In the structure shown in Figs. I to III and in Fig. VIII anelectromagnet ais employed,- which is adapted when excitedto actuate the.shown in the lower portion of t armature b and its attached lever c.This lever is connected at its end by means of a short actuating-crank dwith the counting-- sulatingly mounted upon the frame of theelectromagnet and may be employed to control an associated circuit, theinsulating-stud h upon the lever-arm serving to actuate the springs intoenga ement when the armature is excited, as in II. A smallretractorspring e opposes t e movement of the armature. I may say thatalthough illustratlng this device, and preferably employing it incarrying out my lmprovements, the same is not of my invention, and I layno claim thereto. Throughout the description of the diagrams settingforth my improvements I w1ll indicate such device or any equivalentthereof by the reference character 1' or 1", depending upon whether itbe used as a number-indicatlng or timin dev1ce. My invention of courseIS ap licab le to multiple switchboards requiring a arge number, ofoperators; but I consider that brief reference thereto as applied in oneof its forms to the cord-circuit at a single operators position willassist materially in an understandin of the invention.

Referring first to the iagram of Fi IX, A will be understood asrepresenting t e apparatus at a subscribers telephone-stationterminating electrically at the-exchange 1n the jack 5, with which isconnected thelmerelay 5', controlling the circuit through theline-signal lam The connecting-plugs of the opelator s cord-circuit aredesignated,

respectively, by 6 6', and the supervisory re-- lay 7, associated withthe answering-plug 6, controls the circuit at one point through thesupervisory lamp 7 p and 1 will be recognized, respectively, as the meand supervisory pilotrelays controlling the circuits throu h thepilot-signal lamps 11 p S 1s a suitab e source of current the systemshown. 'My invention of the same type diagrammatically indicated insimpler and more condensed form IV as applied to two operatorsosltlonslxrs specifically associated with; the 'operators cord -circuitof the diagram. Therein the manual switch 8 is adapted .alternatlvely toserving to operateconnect the registering apparatus 1 r either with theline or the clearing-flout pilot-signal relay. Associated in circuitwith the registering device r is a rotated electrical interrupter device'11, which may be driven by electrlc motor or any suitable powerconnection at constant speed to sup ly a predetermined number of currentimpu ses for each second of elapsed time when the circuit through theregistering mechanism r is closed. Accordingly the device 1" whenconnected with its timed electrical interrupter 'iconstitutes anelectrically-actuated timing mechanism, 'the urpose of which will laterbe explained. he registering device 1" is merely a counting appliance.From the foregoin it will be understood that the relay p w'l be excited,thereby drawing up its armature and closing the controlled circuitwhenever current flows through any line-signal lamp at the o eratorsposition. Sim1larly, the relay p will be excited to close its controlledcircuit Whenever the corresponding su ervisory lamp is caused to light,all of Whic will be well understood by those skilled in the art.

In Figs. IV to VI, I have indicated merely in a diagrammatic manner theapplication of my invention in somewhat varying forms to two operatorspositions of a tele hone-ex-.

change. Referring either to Fig. V or Fig. IX, S will, as before, beunderstood as a suit ablesource of current or battery. 4 At p and pIhave indicated the usual pilot-relays for operating, respectively, thepilot-signals at each operators pc sition when aline-si nal' is actuatedin the well-known manner an when the clearing-out signalis sent in. sisa switch which is adapted to connect the registering apparatus 7 1"either with the line or the clearing-out pilot-signal relay. :At 2', isindicated an interrupter rotated by electric motor or other suitablemeans ata constant rate of speed, say, so that four current impulses persecond will be sent over any asso ciate'dcircuit when thesarne isclosed. In the said diagram I have also employed an intermediate relay9', which is adapted to close circuit through the timing mechanism 1"whenever the counting mechanism is actuated. In ad dition, upon theright-hand'side I have shown an extra tim ng mechanism 1", connected inconductor m, which is adapted to becclcsed' directly by the actuation ofthe counter-cperating mechanism r, its contact m correcndin'g to oneofthe coacting springs f g of t e device of Figs. I and II. I have thusinbe simplified somewhat by causing the counter-operating mechanism to.serve as well in the capacity oi an intermediate relay.

In the embodiment of Fi Veach of the relays p p are t e switches s,which enables the counting and timing devices to be connected directlyin circuit without the intermediate rep is provided with ouble contacts,as

. time for makin sired, the switc es s will be manually thrown lay. Thisform is not so well adapted for ex isting telephone-exchanges, since theinstallation must be changed to provide this additional feature.

In the diagram of Fig. VI separate brushes I i are provided upon theinterrupter, which lead to the different operator s positions, this Ibeing a ccnstruction adapted principally for small exchanges.

From the foregoing description of ,appara tus the operation will now bequite readily understood. Assuming that the switches s are manuallymoved into engagement with their left-hand contacts, the apparatus willthen be in condition to indicate the number of calls and the timeelapsing before the respective operators make the required connec tions.A call being initiated at the position shown on the right, Fig. IV,relay p will'be energized, causing its contacts to close and clcsingcircuit thrcugh conductor 1, the relay-contacts, switch 8, conductor 2,the inter- .mediate relay j, counting mechanism 7", and

to the other pole of the battery; also, from conductor 2, through theclosed contacts of relay 1', through .the timing mechanism 9, conductor3, the intermittently-closed interrupter i, and or nductor 4 to theother pole of the battery. This causes the counting mechanism toregister one call upon its countingtrain, while the timing mechanism isactuated by the intermittent current at the rate of four movements persecond until the circuit is opened at the contact of the pilot-signalrelay llby the operator inserting the plug for ma ing the connection inaccordance with the well-known manner.

position corresponding to the right-hand side In the operator s' of thediagram (shown in Fig. IV and in Fig.

IX). I have indicatedthc manner in which the timing mechanism rray beoperated directly through the clr sure of a circuit by thecounter-operating mechanism. Thus circuit would also be closed throughthe engaging contacts so of the counter-operating mechanism, theconnected timing mechanism r, conductors m the interrupter i, andconductor 4 to the oppc site pole of the battery. Either mode 10foperating the. timing mechanism may be employed, and in this case thetwo timing devices dia rammatically shown would give identical inications. Where-both devices r'r are used, one may be placed upon thechief operator s desk and one upon the monitor's, for example. It willbe understood, of course, that the relay-contacts f g are not requiredin the device of Fig". I when it is employed as a timing mechanism orwhen an intermediate relay is also provided no the other'hand, theelapsed to engage their right-hand contacts, where I is function for thecircuit-closing springs then I i rived atin the same mg thecontrolling-switch s, to the-right in-, "55 I upon the connected systemof registering a paratus and 'relayswill be placed under t 0 control ofthe clearin -out pilot-relayslp. In the diagram of Fig. the switch .9",aving v two make-and-break contacts, as have the two pilot-relays, it isperfectly obvious that the counting and the timing mechanism may beplaced directl in circuit'with the respective contacts and areindividually ,controlled and actuated over their so ar te'circuits toeffect the same resultsreac ed in the system of circuits just described.In the system set forth in Fig. VI such results are likewise attained byemploying separate brushes i uponthe re tated interrupter i, and therebyactuating the respective. timing devices r u on the closure cf theirindividual circuits. e purpose of this associated apparatus need onl ebriefly alluded to. Each operators position will be charged upon her.anism '1', or rather the-registeri'ng-train thereof with the number oftelephone-calls which are. made at her positionu'pon the switchboardInasmuch as the timing mechanism "r registers successively eachquarter-second or any desired definite time interval elapsin until shemakes the called-for connection an as the total elapsed time is computedupon the counting-traim the efficiency of the opfrom these two erator isreadily ascertained iresults. Similarly, the. prom'ptness' with whichshe makes her disconnections is armanner merely by throwstead of to theleft. 1 v,

q In Fig. VII, I have illustrated an accurate and simple circuitmterrupter which may be adopted for use in many cases, the same beingpositioned at 2', in the diagrams when thus employed; This device may beused inlieu of the rotated interrupters i, if 'desired. in

7 beats to the second,

, mounting .small plants." In said figure I have shown the pendulum-bob7c1of a clock making two we-will.say. A metal frame Z is carried uponthe refar'of. said bob, the contact screws -l.: Pivotally. "mountedwithin said frame is a ,loosely-' er of saidscrews l" at each beat ofthe-pendulum. Conductor n, which will be connected with one pole of thebat tery, is ledto" the insulated contacts 0 of this tonguejwhile@conductor '12, for com leting the circuit gisgrounded upon frame Theswinging of the pendulum accordin ly causes the circuit to be opened andclosed ourtimes per second and serves to transmit the necessaryelectrical impulses for actuating any connected apparatus,- as thetiming mechanism r of my improved registering system. The-foregoingdevice, however, is not adapted for use in tele hone systems of anyconsiderable size an is not specifically claimed herein, being shownmerely as an additional counting mech-.

ton as m, 1 adapted to contact, with one OI-thfljQfi'l ositionpreferably-is availed of for -my invention may be put into practice, Idesire to claim, and secure by Letters Patent, the following;

1. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with acontrollingQircuit-closing device, of a source of current, anelectricallyactuated counter, another el'ectrically-actu ated counter,and means for supplying interrupted current thereto and adapted to beconnected with the latter, substantially as set forth. I

2. In registering apparatus for telephoneexchanges, the combination witha controlling-circuit closer at the exchange, of an electricallyoperated counting mechanism, an electrica ly-operated timing mechanismand means for simultaneouly connecting'current with each upon theactuation of-the controlling-circuit closer,wherebyithe signaled call ordisconnection andthe elapsed time in re sponding thereto are bothregistered, substantially as set fort-l1 3. In exchanges, thecombination witha p' ot-sigof; signals at the oper may readily beregistering apparatus for tele hone-- nal relay at the exchange, of'aneiectricallyactuated -counter, intermediate circuit-closing means, atiming mechanism adapted to be connected circuit with the latter andwitha source ofinterrupted current upon the actuation of. the relay,whereby both ap-- 'pliances are operated upon the actuation of therelay,substantially as set forth.

4. In registering apparatus for telephoneexchan es, the combinationwith'the pilotrelays or the line-signals and for the clearing-outsignals at an operators position, of a switch controlling the circuit'toeither of said relays, an electrically-operated counting and timingmechanism adapted to be connected in circuit therewith, whereby theelapsed I timeeither for making connection or disconnection may beautomatically indicated, substantially as'set forth 5. In apparatus ofthe class described, the combination with a source of current, of

n i'eans tor interrupting the same at definite time intervals, acontrolling-relay at the operator osition of a telephone-exchange, anelectrical -actuated -counting mechanism, another eF'ctrically-actuatedcounting mech anism, and intermediate contacts closed together upon theactu tion, of the countin p mechanism connected in circuit to supply thev interrupted current to the last mentioned 7 In registering apparatusfor operators positions at telephone switchboards, the combination withan-automatically-actuated circuit opening and closing device, of asource of electric current controlled thereby, and associated to beconnected in circuit therewith in separate branches, anelectrically-actuated counter in one branch, and a g timed interrupterdevice and another electrically-actuated counter in the other branch,

substantially as set forth.

Signed at Cleveland this 29th day of November, 1904. a CLARENCE E.WRIGHT.

Witnesses:

A. L. LAWRENCE, D. ,A. YODER.

